Illinois quick hits: Primary election ballot certified; indictments increased in 2025

Illinois quick hits: Primary election ballot certified; indictments increased in 2025

January 8, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Primary election ballot certified

The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the March 2026 primary ballot this week, removing several Republican candidates for governor after upholding petition challenges.

Remaining on the GOP gubernatorial ballot is Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner. Gov. J.B. Pritzker will be unchallenged in the Democrats’ primary March 17.

For U.S. Senate Candidates, Democrats will have 10 to choose from, Republicans six.

Indictments increased in 2025

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois says it cracked down on crime and implemented new policies in 2025.

Statistics the office released show indictments were up 34% compared to the previous year.

The office also touts more focus on mass transit safety, health care fraud investigations and immigration enforcement efforts.

Unemployment rate forecast

The Chicago Fed Real-Time Unemployment Rate Forecast is estimating the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly unemployment rate at 4.56% for December, matching the actual BLS unemployment rate for November.

The December 2024 unemployment rate was 4.09%.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WATCH: National Guard case before SCOTUS; Trump insists China soybean deal coming

WATCH: National Guard case before SCOTUS; Trump insists China soybean deal coming

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the latest...
Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.31.38 AM

Lincoln-Way Board Honors Students with Perfect ACT Scores, Music Educator of the Year

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Lincoln-Way District 210 celebrated exceptional academic and faculty achievement by formally recognizing nine students who earned a perfect composite...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Peotone Board of Education for September 29, 2025

Peotone School Board Special Board Meeting - Monday, September 29, 2025 The Peotone Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025, primarily to pass a revised...
Meeting-Briefs-4

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Green Garden Township for October 13, 2025

The Green Garden Township Board meeting on Monday, October 13, 2025, was dominated by two major issues: a growing community-led fight against a massive proposed solar facility and the board's...
Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.32.04 AM

Lincoln-Way Support Staff Union Rejects Tentative Contract Agreement

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Members of the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 support staff union have voted down a tentative five-year contract...
Screenshot 2025-10-16 at 8.29.54 PM

Green Garden Abandons Town Hall Project, Forfeits Grant After County Shortens Deadline

Green Garden Township Meeting October 13 @ 7PM Article Summary: The Green Garden Township Board has officially withdrawn from a grant-funded project for a new town hall after Will County...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for October 7, 2025

The Will County Legislative Committee held a long and contentious meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, highlighted by the narrow 4-3 passage of a controversial resolution supporting protections for immigrant...
Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.13.13 AM

Peotone School Board Passes Revised Budget, Averting Financial Shutdown

Peotone School Board Special Board Meeting - Monday, September 29, 2025 Article Summary: Facing a state-mandated deadline, the Peotone Board of Education narrowly passed a revised 2025-2026 budget with a...
Screenshot 2025-10-16 at 8.30.46 PM

Green Garden Residents Mobilize Against Massive 18-Square-Mile Solar Facility

Green Garden Township Meeting October 13 @ 7PM Article Summary: A volunteer citizen group in Green Garden Township has announced a five-phase strategy to stop a massive commercial solar facility...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Peotone Board of Education for September 22, 2025

The Peotone school board on Monday, September 22, 2025, rejected the district's 2025-2026 budget, which carried a $4.2 million deficit, setting off an urgent scramble to find significant cuts before...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 12.05.55 PM

Will County Board Committee Passes Contentious ‘Live and Work Without Fear’ Resolution on 4-3 Vote

Will County Legislative Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee on Tuesday narrowly passed a controversial resolution affirming the county's commitment to ensuring all residents...
Meeting Briefs

Will County Awards $10.4 Million Contract for Bell Road Widening in Homer Glen Area

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee on Tuesday confirmed the award of a $10.4 million...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for October 7, 2025

The Will County Finance Committee on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, held a contentious meeting centered on the county’s finances, narrowly approving a preliminary $161.6 million county-wide tax levy on a...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 12.12.16 PM

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee for October 7, 2025

The Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, approved a major construction contract and reviewed extensive plans for both county and state transportation initiatives. The...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Capital Improvements & IT Committee for October 7, 2025

The Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee spent the bulk of its meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, discussing the county’s long-term facilities master plan. Faced with an aging...